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City Beach Primary Environmental Background
City Beach Primary has a long tradition of developing the students’ knowledge of their environment. In 1989 the school began the ecological restoration of a section of the school’s grounds, the Bush Garden. The area was planted by parents and students with plants indigenous to this part of City Beach. All plants are adapted to the local climatic soil conditions and unlike the rest of the school grounds the Bush Garden is not irrigated and is totally dependent upon natural rainfall.
The Environmental and associated studies with the Bush Garden was the recipient of numerous awards:
Ø 1990 Winner John Tonkin Greening Western Australia Tree Award for Student Endeavour Category
Ø 1990 Winner State Landcare Award
Ø 1995 Joint Winner John Tonkin Greening WA Award
Ø 1995 Winner State Landcare
Ø 1996 State Recycling and Waste Reduction Awards for Education
Ø 1997 Waterwise School Recognition by Water Corporation
Ø 1997 Finalist Young Australian of the Year Award
The school’s Conservation and Ecology programme was based around the garden. The bush garden project gave the school a resource that provides a broad range of learning experiences that encourages leadership, planning, organising, researching, decision making and co-operative action. The bush garden was integrated across the curriculum.
Over the years, classes have run numerous activities connected with the site. These include butterfly breeding, worm farming, mini-beast and ant studies, maintenance and development of the Bush garden, nursery management, paper recycling and publication of the Bush Press. Some of these activities continue today and have been developed as part of the school’s ongoing environmental and sustainability program.
CITY BEACH PRIMARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM 2008,
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Year level |
Responsibility |
Outcomes |
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Whole school |
Waste Watch Program
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To raise awareness of waste issues, encourage behavioural changes and develop responsible environmental values
· Worlds of Waste
· Ready, steady recycle
· Waste Watchers
· Smart Shoppers
· Nature’s Recyclers
· Litter, Litter Everywhere
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Whole School |
Water Wise Program
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Maintain and extend water wise gardens.
Investigate dual flush toilets and water tanks for the school.
Develop/Extend children’s understanding of water wise ways at school and at home. |
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All classes |
Environmental Leaders |
Two students from each class with specific Go Green responsibilities to encourage environmental awareness across all classes. (paper, lights, litter, air conditioner, worm food) |
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All classes |
Enviro-Friends |
Through sponsorship, students are directly helping endangered wildlife, as well as learning the values of environmental responsibility and active citizenship. Students will have increased awareness of environmental, conservation and cultural issues. |
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Kindergarten |
Worm Farm
Sensory Garden
Vegetable Patch |
To raise children’s awareness of nature through active participation, observation and recycling. |
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Pre Primary |
Worm Farm |
To raise awareness of the importance of worms in gardens and the recycling of food scraps and other natural products. |
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Year 1 |
Butterflies |
To actively involve children in the breeding process of butterflies and to learn about life cycle and metamorphic changes that occur. |
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Year 2 |
Propagation |
To actively involve children in the propagation of plants |
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Year 3 |
Frog Pond |
To actively involve students in the importance, care and development of tadpoles, as well as the maintenance of the frog pond. |
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Year 4 |
Birds |
What is a bird? Learn about local birds, their characteristics and adaptations to their environment. Make bird boxes for breeding. Web of life. Herdsman visit. |
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Year 5 |
Worm Farms |
To raise awareness of the importance of worms in gardens and the recycling of food scraps and other natural products. |
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Year 6 |
Bush Press |
To develop the skills necessary to produce the ‘Bush Press’ to inform other students and their families on environmental issues. |
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Year 7 |
Paper Recycling |
Collect and recycle paper from the office, classrooms and photocopy room for a variety of uses eg notebooks, shredded paper for pet shops, worm farms etc |
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